Thailand Airstrikes on Cambodia Ignite Border Crisis, Jeopardizing Trump-Brokered Ceasefire

BANGKOK/ PHNOM PENH — December 7, 2025  Thailand unleashed airstrikes on Cambodian military positions along their disputed border early Monday, killing at least one soldier and wounding several others, as both nations pointed fingers in a blame game that threatens to unravel a fragile peace accord spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump just two months ago.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) confirmed the strikes targeted "weapon depots, command centers, and logistical routes" deemed immediate threats, in retaliation for what Bangkok described as unprovoked Cambodian artillery and mortar fire that struck a Thai outpost near the Chong An Ma Pass. "Cambodia had mobilized heavy weaponry and repositioned combat units, posing a direct risk to our border security," RTAF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree told reporters in Bangkok, adding that the assault followed an attack that claimed the life of one Thai soldier and injured two more at Anupong Base.

Cambodia swiftly condemned the airstrikes as "brutal and inhumane," accusing Thai forces of initiating the violence around 5:04 a.m. local time in Preah Vihear province. "The Thai military has been provoking clashes for days with the intent to sabotage the peace process," the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. Phnom Penh emphasized its restraint, noting it refrained from retaliation "in the spirit of international law and previous agreements," and called for an urgent investigation by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The flare-up marks the most severe breach yet of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, signed in late October during an ASEAN summit in Malaysia and personally witnessed by Trump alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The deal expanded on an initial ceasefire Trump helped negotiate on July 28, following five days of deadly clashes that killed at least 48 people and displaced over 300,000 along the 500-mile frontier. Trump had hailed the agreement as a cornerstone of his foreign policy triumphs, boasting in a recent White House address that he had "settled eight wars in ten months" thanks to decisive U.S. leadership.

But the accord's fragility was exposed last month when Thailand suspended implementation after a landmine explosion maimed two soldiers—an incident Bangkok attributed to newly planted Cambodian explosives. Tensions boiled over further last week with another mine blast that cost a Thai soldier his foot, prompting demands for a Cambodian apology that went unanswered. Analysts warn the core issue—a century-old territorial dispute centered on ancient Khmer temple sites like Preah Vihear—remains unresolved, fueling nationalist fervor on both sides.

"This isn't just a border skirmish; it's a test of whether Trump's deal-making can hold in the face of entrenched rivalries," said Prashanth Parameswaran, a Southeast Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Without addressing the root claims, these ceasefires are little more than band-aids on a gaping wound."

The violence has drawn sharp international concern. ASEAN foreign ministers scheduled an emergency virtual meeting for later Monday, while the United Nations urged de-escalation to prevent a repeat of July's chaos. In Washington, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed "deep disappointment" over the developments, sidestepping questions on Trump's role but reaffirming U.S. commitment to regional stability.On X, reactions poured in with a mix of alarm and irony. "FIFA gave Trump their first-ever 'Peace Prize' for Thailand-Cambodia just yesterday—now this? The irony writes itself," one user quipped, referencing a ceremonial award Trump received over the weekend. Others decried the collapse as a blow to global diplomacy, with hashtags like #TrumpPeaceFail trending alongside calls for ASEAN intervention.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin vowed "decisive action" to protect sovereignty, while Cambodian leader Hun Manet—son of influential former premier Hun Sen—appealed for calm in a televised address, insisting Phnom Penh seeks only "peace and justice." 17GEN4

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